Benedicte Gravrand, Opalesque Geneva: - The current Swiss Funds Association (SFA)’s Asset Management Strategy for Switzerland is "aimed at establishing asset management as a key mainstay of the Swiss financial sector, and renowned internationally for the highest reliability, independence, and quality standards." Speaking at last week’s Swiss Funds and Asset Management Forum in Bern, Dr. Gérard Fischer, Vice-President of the SFA and CEO of Swisscanto Holding Ltd., said the initiative must focus on "bringing the fundamental frameworks in line with global and institutional standards."

The Association’s primary focus is indeed now to exert influence on the implementation of the partial revision of the CISA (Collective Investment Schemes Act), to continue developing the Asset Management Strategy for Switzerland, and to maintain the lobbying efforts on upcoming legislative projects such as the Swiss Financial Services Act, Dr. Matthäus Den Otter, CEO of the SFA, noted later.

The SFA substantiated its aim to promote Swiss asset management when it published a white paper on the matter last November.

Also on Friday, the SFA held its 20th Annual General Meeting, during which it was decided that it would adopt a new name as from 1st July, 2013, to; the Swiss Funds & Asset Management Association, or SFAMA.

"This is aimed at expressing our key strategic objectives, with asset management also the utmost priority for us in a......................